QUICK HITS

1New Smart Fabrics Monitor Your Health A recent Medgadget article discussed new smart textiles designed to help monitor the wearer’s health. There is already a range of wearables available that monitor health, but they typically need to be battery-powered. These textiles, however, harvest energy from nearby Wi-Fi and radio networks.

The fabrics can be used to produce smart garments that are ideal for everyday use since they’re water repellent, breathable, and machine washable. Imagine a shirt that is designed to make your life easier by monitoring your health and protecting you from accidents as it wirelessly transmits information to your mobile device.

Sounds like the future, right?

2Moderna’s mRNA Flu Vaccine Enters

Trials

Moderna was a major player in the race to develop a vaccine for COVID-19. Now, according to a recent Engadget article, the company is using the same mRNA-based technology to combat the seasonal flu. The company announced that it has begun human trials as part of a Phase 1/2 clinical study. The vaccine goes by the name mRNA-1010, and it’s designed to fight the four most common strains of the virus. These include A H1N1, H3N2, influenza B Yamagata, and influenza B Victoria.

3Ransomware Attack Targeted Ireland’s

Health System

An AP News article discussed a “serious” ransomware attack targeted at Ireland’s health system in May. The country’s health service shut down its IT systems and canceled appointments and elective procedures after learning of the attempted attack. It was later determined that hackers (who appear to operate out of Russia) used Conti ransomware. According to officials, none of the coronavirus vaccinations were affected, but they anticipated major problems for radiology services, elective surgeries, diagnostics, and obstetrics and gynecology appointments. Recovery may take months, and according to Digital Journal, some extracted data has already surfaced on the dark web.

4Student Develops Device for Stab Wounds A recent India Times article discussed a new device developed by a university student that aims to improve the way stab wounds are treated. The device is called REACT, and it consists of a silicon balloon sleeve and a handheld actuator. The balloon component, called a tamponade, is inserted into the wound, and then the actuator inflates to create the right amount of pressure to stop a hemorrhage in under a minute. It was developed to treat deep wounds in the abdomen, but the concept can likely be applied to wounds in other parts of the body. 5California to

Provide Digital Vaccine Records

If you’ve been vaccinated for COVID-19, you received a card containing the dates of your shots and the brand of the vaccine. According to a recent Los Angeles Times article, the state of California has launched a digital vaccine verification program that aims to replace the cards. The digital replicas offer an easier alternative to the paper cards that are easily lost. The electronic version will contain all the same information as the physical cards as well as a QR code that can be scanned to confirm authenticity.

6Major Medical

Centers Are Nixing Aduhelm

Last month, we discussed Aduhelm, Biogen’s recently-approved Alzheimer’s drug that received pushback from medical professionals who believe the FDA put the cart ahead of the horse.

Now, according to a New York Times article, two major medical centers, Cleveland Clinic and Mount Sinai, have decided not to administer the drug to patients. Cleveland Clinic released a statement saying that a panel of its experts reviewed scientific evidence on the drug’s safety and efficacy and decided not to carry it at this time. However, a spokesperson for the clinic noted that individual physicians can prescribe Aduhelm, but patients would have to receive the monthly intravenous infusion elsewhere. Providence has also declined to administer the drug. It is the first Alzheimer’s drug approved in 20 years.

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